nice! what is that thingy in the top-middle with the cage?
Is the USB Hub also beeing powered from the big PSU?
nice! what is that thingy in the top-middle with the cage?
It looks like a (fairly old) variac, which is a variable voltage AC toroidal transformer. They're useful for controlling the power input into simple motors and static-type loads, like heaters. They're also good for blowing up electronics, because they can usually be turned up to give a voltage higher than their mains input.
Indeed it is, it's a 15A Superior Electric Powerstat, probably from the 1960s. It's a beast
And yep, the hub is powered by the ATX psu. I chopped the barrel plug off the original wall wart and soldered it to a 4 pin floppy drive power connector that I desoldered from a floppy drive in my junk pile. The hub has been modified to handle the higher current draw of the block erupters.